From 23 to 27 February 2008, EuroShop, the world’s No. 1 event for retail investments will open its doors in Düsseldorf. Featuring more than 1,600 exhibitors from some 50 countries, EuroShop is the premier innovations platform and trend barometer for the retail industry and its partners.

The special presentation Materialzone will be celebrating its debut at EuroShop 2008. This showcase is being coordinated and presented by Material ConneXion Cologne. Taking up a central position in Hall 7.0, producers of materials and products will unveil innovative materials, forward-looking manufacturing processes and creative applications catering especially to retailers. The Materialzone will spotlight four focal themes – emotion, safety, functionality and sustainability.

With the Materialzone, EuroShop is further expanding its expertise in the field of design and leadership in innovation. Here, architects, interior designers, shopfitters and exhibition stand builders, industrial and retail professionals as well as events and marketing specialists will find a wealth of information and inspiration for using the latest material highlights.

The design of the Materialzone in itself promises to be eye-catching – especially as Material ConneXion Cologne plans on dramatising the products in loosely grouped, illuminated material containers that resemble large wooden shipping crates. Product boards in English and German will describe the exhibits on view inside the containers and list the relevant company’s name.

Expert consultants from Material ConneXion Cologne will be on hand throughout the trade fair’s run to enlighten interested visitors about the exhibited products’ characteristics and functions. What’s more, a Materialzone booklet will be available for visitors, documenting the items on show with details on the materials’ sources and product photos.

Founded by George Beylerian in New York in 1997, the Material ConneXion materials library is today an internationally acclaimed information source on new, forward-looking materials and processing techniques. It currently archives more than 3,000 material samples. The Material ConneXion network encompasses an online library as well as local libraries on site in New York, Cologne, Milan and Bangkok. Founder George Beylerian will be giving a talk at the EuroShop Retail Design Conference on 23 February 2008. For further information on Material ConneXion, please go to www.materialconnexion.de.

EuroShop 2008 will welcome trade visitors to Halls 3–17 (excluding Hall 8) of the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center daily between 10am and 6pm from Saturday, 23 February to Wednesday, 27 February 2008. One-day tickets will cost EUR 40 (EUR 28 plus postage if purchased online in advance), while two-day tickets will sell for EUR 60 (EUR 45 plus postage, online in advance). Five-day tickets will be available for EUR 110 (EUR 90 plus postage, online in advance). Students and trainees will be admitted for EUR 15. Admission tickets entitle holders to travel free of charge to and from the fair on public transport services within the Rhine-Ruhr and Rhine-Sieg Regional Transport Networks (VRR and VRS). For further information on all aspects of EuroShop, please go to www.euroshop.de.